Missouri Neighbors

Located on a curve of the Little Sac River sits a stable. It’s a peaceful scene: horses grazing and birds singing. At first glance, Sac River Stables outside of Springfield, Mo., in Greene County appears to be the ideal place to ride. And it is, with beautiful trails and two riding arenas. But it's more than that – it’s also an ideal place to worship.

What started as a hobby project has grown exponentially into something much more rewarding for Michael Hinton and family of West Plains, Mo., in central Howell County. “I always wanted an antique tractor, so when I got the chance to buy a 1949 Farmall Cub, I took the chance,” he explained.

Shortly after Sylvester Burd returned from World War II to his Phillipsburg, Mo., home in Laclede County, he and his brother, Neil visited a neighbor with the intention of buying his farm. “We came down and talked to him about it. He said he would take $11,000. In a few days he came over where we lived, a quarter of a mile from here, and he said if we wanted that place he would take $9,000 for it – house, barn and all. He said, ‘I want you boys to have it,’” related Sylvester. Sylvester purchased the farm in the spring of 1946.

Self-sufficiency is the ultimate byword at Pasture Nectar Farm in Lawrence County.

Keith Stevens farms with his brother-in-law, Les Hopkins, on a 170-acre farm in Polk County near Bolivar, Mo. Keith and Les both have jobs off the farm.

Lowline Angus cattle have it all:  perfect size, friendly dispositions and fabulous finished beef. If you want the ‘lowdown’ on this great breed, no one is more knowledgeable than Mark Ramsey of 4R Farms in Republic, Mo. Mark and his wife, Becky, have been raising Lowline Black Angus cattle in Greene County for seven years.

Paul Sims’ herd of American British White Park Cattle move as a wave of white, trotting up to the fence to greet him on his Dent County farm. Paul claims he rarely feeds the cattle, except necessary hay in the winter, but maintains that the breed’s affection for humans is inherited.

When Darrel and Anita Franson started Shiloh Land and Cattle Company in Lawrence County nearly 19 years ago, their commercial herd consisted of 50 mismatched cows.

The Ozark hills are rich with hidden treasures and Marge Booton of rural Laclede County is surely one of them. Originally from Sylmar, Calif., 15 years ago, she and her husband, Harley, a retired Air Force major and Lockheed engineer, moved to a ranch tucked in behind Bennett Spring outside Lebanon, Mo. Today, they operate the Booton Ranch and offer quarter horse stud services, riding lessons, both English and Western riding and boarding. “We have about 25 acres here,” Harley Booton explained, “but we have access to another 1,500 for riding so that is a great help to us.”

For 22 years, David and Cherri Middleton ran a pretty traditional registered black Angus operation on their Lawrence County farm near Mt. Vernon, Mo.